Projects & Programs

Vasavya Mahila Mandali executes projects in three ways: lead organization, implementer and technical support provider.

VMM as a Lead Organisation (LO) works with a network of NGOs and CBOs in Andhra Pradesh

Technical support: Technical support includes capacity building, modules development, monitoring and evaluation, onsite and on line mentoring, knowledge management and documentation. VMM guides implementing partners in programme and finance. Programme includes execution of direct or indirect services to community, local advocacy, data management (regular punching, tracking and analysis). Building capacities in finance development is a part of the project.

Organizational development: Based on NGO capacities assessed by VMM, identify gaps and provide support in developing the systems and policies. This makes the NGOs/ CBOs to manage organisations with professionalism with a priority on accountability with value for money, be accountable to funders and community; transparency in finance and programme management

Forward granting: VMM as an intermediary organization receives funds from donors and forward grant to NGOs through online banking transactions. The fund management is time bound, accuracy, periodical and audit (quarterly and annual). Finance reporting (detailed as required by donor) matches with programme.

Vasavya MahilaMandali implements programmes directly in various parts of Andhra Pradesh. The projects are managed under the direct supervision and guidance of VMM.

Capacity building: to communities for community driven sustainable initiatives and for staff for effective quality deliverables

Participation of communities in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and review and social audit.

Research, Documentation and Publications

Advocacy on policy initiatives

VMM Projects and Programmes

HEALTH

Koshish Project(improve the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of People Living with HIV (PLHIV):

Vasavya MahilaMandali (VMM) has initiated Koshish Project from 01 April 2011, with an objective to improve the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of People Living with HIV (PLHIV). VMM is the State Level Partner (SLP) to India HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhisupported by European Commission. Along with VMM,Telugu Network ofPeople Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+) is a State Level Network (SLN). This project is implemented by India HIV/AIDS Alliance in four states in India: Andhra Pradesh , Gujarat, Maharashtra andTamilnadu.The duration of the project is from April 2011 to March 2014.

VMM initiated this project in Andhra Pradesh with Ten partners in five districts. In each district works with two Community Based organisations: one District level HIV Positive Network (DLN) and one Key Population (KP) organization either Men Sex with Men (MSM) or Female Sex Workers (FSW).

District

District Level Net work

Key Populationorganisaiton

East Godavari

CNP+

VRMSS (KP- Female sex workers)

Krishna

CHES+

Ankita (KP - sex workers)

Guntur

SHIP

SnehaSiri (KP -MSM)

Anantapur

ANP+

Sneham CBO (KP - MSM)

Ranga Reddy

NHP+

DarpanFoundation (KP- MSM)

Koshish coalition formed with 20 civil society organizations (CSOs)includes VMM,TNP+,10 partners and 8 CSOs in Andhra Pradesh, to advocate the SRHR needs of PLHIV and Key population through community consultations.

The state level advocacy issue taken up is to advocate with AP State AIDS Control Society on the execution of the proceedings of National AIDS Control Organisation for making Pap Smear test for all women living with HIV for early identification of cervical cancer, along with other mandatory tests taken up at ART centres.

The local advocacy is on attitudes of counselors towards key population.

TAP project(TB initiative in Andhra Pradesh (TAP) programme) :

The TB initiative in Andhra Pradesh (TAP) programme is currently being implemented in six coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh through Vasavya MahilaMandali (VMM) the Lead Organisation. The TAP program is funded by TB Alert India with the technical support from TB Alert UK grants from UKaid(previously known as DFID) under Civil Society Challenge Fund. The duration of the project is from September,2011 to March 2015. The implementation of the programme is through six implementing NGOs inSrikakulam - Youth Club of Bejjipuram (YCB); Visakhapatnam - Peace Educational and Rural Developments (PEACE); East Godavari - Coastal Network of Positives (CNP+); Krishna - Children Leadership Development Association (CLDA); Prakasam - MahilaMandali (MM) and Nellore - Serve Train Educate People Society (STEPS).
The project aims to reduce levels of TB and TB/HIV co-infection and increase access to effective health services, through empowered communities and local advocacy in underserved tribal, rural, slum communities.
Proposed Outcomes:1) Increased awareness of TB and HIV and increased usage of free government health services, 2) Community structures in that place promote health rights, health seeking behavior and a stigma free health care and environment, 3) Improved TB diagnosis and treatment services.

Swetcha Gora Eye Bank

Vasavya MahilaMandali has initiated Swetcha Gora Eye Bank. In 1989, Swetcha Gora, grand-daughter of Chennupati Vidya (only daughter of Dr. Keerthi) , died after pledging her eyes at the age of seven, in an eye donation drive by Indian Medical Association, Her eyes were donated to two blind people. With this inspiration Swetcha Gora eye bank is foundedin 1996. Dr. G. Samaram as Executive Director of Swetcha Gora Eye Bank has motivated the urban and rural people on eye donation, collected family pledge forms, documented the donor and recipient list, conducted Keratoplasty surgeries with the support of local ophthalmologists and collaborated with government and non-government agencies.

Swetcha Gora Eye Bank is life member in Eye Bank Association of India and is the only community based eye bank successfully run by a women organization. Through Swetcha Gora eye bank, 850 people received their vision. More than two hundred thousand people, pledged to donate their eyes. This is possible to VMM only by its realistic and practicalapproach to social work and social problems and collaboration with service organisations. District Blindness Control Society, Krishna supports for Keratoplay and for organizing Eye donation fortnight celebration (25 August to 8 September).

This outstanding achievement has been recognized and the eye bank is honored by giving prestigious place in ‘The India Book of Records’in the year 2012.

Multipurpose Health Workers training

From 2000, Vasavya MahilaMandaliinitiated multipurpose (female) health workers traininginstitute, recognized by government of Andhra Pradesh. It is 18 months course. The trainees take part in public health programmes under PPP model (Public and Private Partnership) attend focused medical campaigns: for polio eradication coordinate in 20 slum based centres in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation on fixed days and do community outreach; Filarial and malaria eradication through education and community management on sanitation and link with mobile health camps conducted by civil society and Government of Andhra Pradesh. This helped in improving the community based primary health care even natural disasters like floods and cyclones. From the year 2000 till 2012 VMM has successfully trained 267 young girls. More than 50% of them were employed in government sector and the others inprivate hospitals. Orphan girls and young women deserted or widowed do get admission on priority.Unniti Foundation and Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation are partially supporting for some students and government support for scheduled caste and tribe students. The students also contribute for their tuition fee.For more details click here

Urban Health Centers

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation appointed Vasavya MahilaMandali as Co-management agency for four urban health centres in Vijayawada since February 2004. Each urban health center is provided with eight-member medical team comprise of medical and para-medical personnel: one Medical Doctor, one community organizer, two auxiliary nurses and two midwives and two helpers that focuses on mother and child care. The focus of these health centers is on maternal and child care. They provide medical treatment and counseling, identify and follow-uppregnant women for promotion of institutional deliveries, promotion of small family norm and immunization.Health Forums are formed at community level for every 50 households. They conduct monthly meetings, monitor the health of the people,treat and track the diseases through community outreach that helps in family education to improve treatment seeking behaviour.

Increased Accessibility to HIV Testing through Mobile ICTC

VMM is running two Mobile Integrated HIV counseling and testing units in Krishna and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh supported by Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society since 2008. For the mobile unit the vehicle was contributed by VMM, in Krishna district. This facility, available at the door steps in remote areas increased accessibility totesting in unreached areas like tribal/ remote ruralareas covering the migrants, women and children. The mobile unit reaches the area during the community convenient time and with the support of NGOs and the local self-governance members educate the communities to undergotesting voluntarily. From December 2008 till July 2012,through MICTCs tested 24974 men, 23965 women (antenatal not included in this number), 5886 antenatal women (ANC) and 723 children (below 18 years).The positivity is 1.43% among ANC. The testing and reporting done on the same day that helped the communities for better follow on treatment and time saving. The referrals after post-test counseling are linked with the localresources. Impact mitigation was addressed through the team members by sensitizing the local leaders to support HIV positive women for services such as widow / old age pensions, food security,housing and livelihoods.

PPTCT Outreach:

VMM is implementing Prevention of Parent to child HIV Transmission (PPTCT+) outreach programme in Vijayawada from 2008 to March 2010 with the support of APSACS. Nuzveedu, Krishna district revenue division is added with support from IL &FS under Global Fund Round IV from September 2010. The latter project of IL&FS for Vijayawada division from September 2010 and Nuzvid started in August 2011. The programme aims at prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV through Ante Natal and Post Natal Care of women by outreach services. VMM PPTCT project facilitated HIV testing from September 2010 to August 2012 among17883 women, out of which 350 (1.95%) were HIV positive. Out of them 284 women delivered babies safely among them 278 were institutional deliveries and 6 were at home. 23 were abortions and 6 still births. The babies were monitored up to 18 months. 239 babies were tested and only eight (3.34%) were HIV positive. The mother and child pairs were consistently followed up with HIV specific treatment and immunization.

Apollo TyresHealth care center:

The Apollo tyres health care center is supported by AppolloTyresFoundation under its CSR initiatives, is located at JawaharAutonagar,Vijayawada and has started serving the trucker and allied population sinceAugust 2011. The clinic extends services primarily to truckers, helpers, mechanics and subservient population who are commercial sex workers and migrant workers at the halt point. The package of services are towards reduction of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV through behavioral change communication, and condom promotion. The basic purpose of the center is that the people voluntarily come and share their problems in free and conducive environment.From August 2011to July 2012 the number of truckers and allied population that availed servicesare834. Pocket chart, thread game and colour TV and interactive games are used to educate the truckers on the serious impact of STIs and HIV. Satellite clinics are initiated to reach more trucker population as the automobile business is wide spread. The 834 truckers and allied registered in the center for ‘health card’ on payment of INR 15 for a month validation, which benefitted them to utilize the services in any Apollo Health care centers throughout India as most of truckers ply National Permit trucks.

TargetedIntervention (TI) forMigrants

With the support from Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS), TI project for Migrants in Vijayawada Urban area is implemented through fiveoutreach workers covered 23 locations with 46 hotspots. Hotspot is the area where the people gathered for their daily work. On an average 200 to 1000 migrant people live in each location. Each outreach worker covered five locations.From December2008 to September 2012 VMM – TI project reached 23,125 migrant people at destination zone: 21812 (94%) were male and 1313 (6%) females. Among themtested for HIV are 10612 among them 272 (2.56%) are positive: Male 198 (73%) and female 74 (27%). The components are: Behavioral change communication, STI management,Condom promotion and providing a free and enabling environment. The project followed up 239 for HIV positive persons for ART center 20 are on ART. 273 are tested for TB. 963 STI cases treated. The HIV positives are linked to government social security schemes like insurance under Labourdepartment, travel free passes from Road Transport Corporation of Andhra Pradesh.

HUMAN RIGHTS

VMM working with Women’s networks:

To increase the coverage of services and to have sharing and learning VMM works with women’s networks ta National level in advocacy and lobbying.
VMM is a Focal point to Womenpower Connect (WPC) for Andhra Pradesh, for empowering the women on their rights and legal aspects, seminars are organized. Advocacy initiatives are carried out with Government, NGOs and the community for better women friendly environment. In Andhra Pradesh there are 117 members for WPC. At AP state level VMM as WPC focal point organized two state level seminars: Southern Regional Level Meet of Women Power Connect
Garima: Promoting Dignity of Women and Girls: A review of policies, legislations and programs
On 14th February, 2011 and State Level Seminar on Strategizing to Effectively Address Concerns Faced by Women in Andhra Pradesh on August 5th 2011 funded by National Commission for Women (NCW). VMM participates in annual general body meetings of WPC in addition to the National conferences and seminars organized by WPC and also its state focal points.

VMM is Life Member since 2003 of Country Women’s Association of India (CWAI), affiliated to two worldwide women’s organisations, namely Associated Country Women of the world, London and International women’s Alliance, Italy which are the consultant bodies of U.N. on women issues.VMM attends to annual and bi-annual conferences conducted. VMM shares its annual reports to CWAI, Kolkata and publish in CWAI’s newsletter ‘Communication’.

Priyadarshini Working Women’s Hostel

Women’s education and emancipation of women makes them stand on their own. In this process women have to come out of their houses and stay at far off places at the place of work. Even for short term and long term trainings, women need a secured shelter. This project is named after ‘Indira PriyaDarshini’ as in 1982then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi suggested Chennupati Vidya (then Vidya was a Member of Indian Parliament) to start a working women’s hostel. Chennupati Seshagiri Rao, chief patron of VMM donated 1180 square yards of land in Benz Circle, prime location in Vijayawada for the construction of working women’s hostel. The hostel was inaugurated by His Excellency,the then Vice President of India Sri.R.Venkat Raman on 9th August 1985.

The facility accommodates 150 young girls and womenand managed by VMM with robust systems: authenticated admission procedures; round the clock security services with CC cameras, watch and ward;care and timely support during family emergencies; serve Andhra cuisine; in-campus recreation, library, counseling facilities and has an ambience to make them understand life through the activities that are conducted at the campus. Market, travel, health and recreation centers are immediate to Priyadarshini. During the last 27 years more than 3800members availed amenities at ‘Home Away from Home’.For more details click here

Programme for Increased Dignity of Women and Girls

Women to have equal status with men and to be treated with dignity are the sole aim of the project. Norwegian Humanist Association is supporting the cause of emancipation of women. It is three-dimensional project

Provide shelter, basic needs with psychosocial support, medical aid to 50 residents: Gora Abhay Nivas, a home for the deserted women without any family support is initiated by VMM since 1985. It is supported by Government of India for a decade. Later, To live with identity and economic independence the women are given vocational trainings. The rehabilitated women are personally counseled and encouraged for family reunion wherever possible. VMM provides recreational facilities including educational tours. Parents meet is organized annually once to share, learn and know the progress of their children and family. As woman feels happy with her family, reunion is given a primary importance. Rehabilitation takes care of job placement, self-employment and career guidance, improving the skills and confidence. Through close linkages and access with government and civil society, the women are empowered to utilize the available services. For more details click here

Reach and educating the community on women’s rights to women and young girls: VMM through its community outreach programme reaching to 7 villages in on legal literacy and timely accessing judicial services and other departmental schemes to address the human rights violations and get justice.

Conduct studies on current social issues related to girl child / women and capacity building: Meetings and seminars are organized to improve their knowledge on social and legal issues.The trainings are organized to staff and volunteers to build their capacities addressing issues related to women/girls.

EDUCATION

Sponsorship programme for orphans and vulnerable children

Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation supported VMM from May 2005 to 2012 for care and support of children affected with HIV through education sponsorship. Since June 2012VMM is implementing sponsorship programme for 190 underprivileged students in Andhra Pradesh for higher education. The aim of the programme is to provide higher educational opportunities for the underprivileged students and upgrade the skills through vocational education for better placement in life. The duration of the programme is from 2012-2014. This programme is implementedby Vasavya MahilaMandaliwithMahilaMandaliChirala, AIRTDS-Tenali.For more details click here

Residential Special Training Centre for Urban Deprived Children (Girls):

VMM is implementing Urban Residential Special Training Centre for deprived children (Girls)supported by Rajiv Vidya Mission (SSA), from 17th March 2012 at Children’s village, Vemaravarm, K Tadepallipanchayat, Vijayawada rural mandal. This is a ten month project and aims to provide useful and relevant elementary education for all children from 6 to 14 years age group 50 girl children.These children belongto orphan, child labourers and disturbed families. Children are mainstreamed to academic studies inGovernment schools.The education includes social reformation. For more details click here

Dandamudi VeeraRaghavaiah and Sarojini Devi Home for the Aged

Vasavya Mahila Mandali is managing an old age home at Gosala village of Penamaluru Mandal, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India since 1993. Old age home site and buildings construction is possible with the humble support of Dr Vishnuvardhar Rao and his family. There are 30 grannies in the old age home and providing medical aid, food, shelter and clothing.The aged women are in the age group of 60 to 98 years. Every year there are 2-3 new admissions as some pass away. The aged take part in Aged day celebrations being conducted by the District administration. Health check-up is conducted by the doctor and provide medicines. Grannies spent good amount of time in watching the movies in television channels.The Inmates are expressing their happiness for having good counselling, care and love besides food and Medical amenities. The 25 inmates are very friendly and they spend their time in reading newspaper, watching TV and sometime in spiritual prayers. Local people come and celebrate their birthdays and marriage days by serving food to the aged. Even in memory of their parents and family members they observe the day with aged mothers in the home. This is a home away from home for grannies that are neglected by their own families.

Residential Hostel for Girls

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act - 2009 requires that all out of School Children of the age of 6-14 shall be admitted into schools respective classes, appropriate to their ageand education standards. The responsibility to implement the above statutory provision rests on Rajiv Vidya Mission-SSA of Government of Andhra Pradesh. Vasavya MahilaMandali (VMM) is managingthe ‘Residential Hostel for Girls’ at Children’s village, Vemavaram, K.Tadepallipanchayat, Vijayawada rural mandal, Krishna district since June 2012. The residential hostel benefits 100 girl children on streets, orphans and children in other vulnerabilities. This project is providing residential facility to the identified deprived girls who are being enrolled into regular school in the age appropriate class as mandated under the RTE Act, so as to ensure that these children are retained in the education fold.For more details click here

Vasavya Nrutyavihar

VMM is managing a dance learning center since 1983 to develop fine arts in the area of dance in classical: Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam and folk. Dance is one of the medium for community awareness and education through traditional forms, delivering message for low literate population. About 70-80 girls and boys learn dance under the mentorship of ‘guru’ known for his dedication in training the students by inculcating values and discipline. The regular classes are on Saturday, Wednesday evening hours and Sunday morning hours, on payment. More details can be obtained by either contacting over phone or visiting VMM campus.

Knowledge Management Club

VMM initiated a Knowledge Management club, in 2010 to upgrade the knowledge of human resources in VMM. The knowledge is update online by sharing the latest developments, new initiatives and policies with VMM project managers and partners. Every Saturday for couple of hours, staff gets the knowledge on various skills required for their work such as Log Frame, documentation of case studies, photography, preserving media coverage, videography, communication and presentation skills, monitoring, supporting partners, team building.

Economic Development

‘MAA Thota’Tribal Development Fund Programme

VMM initiated an Integrated Tribal Development programme sponsored by the Tribal Development Fund (TDF) of NABARD in A. Kondurumandal of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh from 01 November 2011 for the promotion of sustainable participatory livelihood programmes (Wadi model). “MaaThota”aim is “Facilitating the promotion of sustainable participatory livelihood programs through development of orchards, the wadis, by mobilization, management and conservation of natural resources and thereby creating vibrant tribal communities who can organize and manage the soft and hard infrastructure generated through the Project, for themselves, by the end of the 7 years.”VMM identified 100 tribal farmers in A.Kondurumandal to implement the Maathotaprogarmme and the farmers were given their consent to take part in the programme. With the farmers,MaaThota Development Committee is formed for the project area and for each village also the committees were formed. Kalajathas were exhibited to make the tribals know about the project. For nonfarm sector tribal, VMM has designed intervention for piggery, sheep rearing and bamboo products making.

ENVIRONMENT

Our Environment

VMM is situated in the coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh, India and is basically an agriculture based. So the effects of global warming isvisible to all in seasons or lack of seasons, famine or floods and the effect on the crops. Our water canals that supply water for agriculture and usage by people are polluted with plastic bags. The shift of slums created a huge demand for resources to be developed at those slums. The ground water has reduced and rains that are the main source of ground water are not consistent. The general lack of information to the people on the issues related to environment pollution that is easy to understand is not available.
The major challenges before us are reduction of pollution, converting non-recyclable materials into energy, reducing the consumption of non-renewable fuels, development of alternative, green, low-carbon or renewable energy sources, conservation of water, to improve the ground water and bigger aspects of forests and nature.
Study on “Enduring Solutions for Proper Plastic Management: A Constructive Approach to Evaluate the Current Scenario of Plastic Pollution in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh to Propose Better Alternatives” by internees to VMM from Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh in 2011
VMM developed a training manual “MANA BHOOMI” (OUR EARTH), on the themes to give knowledge to communities on saving water, recycle of wastage, reduction of air and sound pollution, grow more tress. This manual aims at training women and children on the importance of environment protection. Trainings were being taken up at all levels to increase the awareness on the global warming and the solutions.
VMM had taken disaster management during floods for Krishna River by organizing relief camps, medical camps, food supply and during tidal wave in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh.

Partnerships with civil society organizations

VMM works with a network of 61 partners (NGOs and CBOs) with 83 project contracts. VMM partner with Telugu Network of positive people (TNP+) through 23 District level positive networks in A.P.More detailclick here(Link to Our Presence About VMM section- map)

Donors: VMM gets funds from Government, International and National donors and corporate foundation and philanthropists. For more details click here.

Human Resource: VMM employs qualified and efficient accountants and senior staff holding a variety of post-graduate academic and managerial qualifications ranging from social sciences, management, home science, education, para medical and medical sciences. VMM has strong teams to manage community based programmes and research projects. VMM works with 162 paid staff besides a number of part time staff, in addition to 15 honorary advisors. For more details click here.

Financial status: The annual turnover of the organization is about USD 619330 (INR 3,46,82,496.87) in the year 2012-13.VMM is having statutory audit that conducts audit of partner NGOs/CBOs and VMM. The finance section compiles the statements and submits to Income tax department, Government of India and registrar of societies. For more detailsclick here.